Nearly 300 cyclists to participate in 2024 Pan Ohio Hope Ride, ride 328 miles from Cleveland to Cincinnati from July 25-28
Nearly 300 cyclists will take to the road for one, two or four days for the 18th Annual Pan Ohio Hope Ride from Cleveland to Cincinnati. The event’s goal is to raise $1 million to support the American Cancer Society (ACS) Joseph S. and Jeanette M. Silber Cleveland Hope Lodge.
The Pan Ohio Hope Ride is a charity bicycle tour of the State of Ohio, traveling from Cleveland to Cincinnati with overnight stays at some of Ohio’s finest college campuses. Since its inception, over 2,000 people have joined the event, many returning year after year. More than 1.8 million miles have been pedaled and nearly $13 million has been raised for the cause.
Mark Taft, team captain of Kick’n the Asphalt Out of Cancer, has been riding and raising money through the Pan Ohio Hope Ride for 12 years. In 2022 and 2023, Taft finished as the event’s top fundraiser.
He has several friends who are actively fighting the disease, and sadly lost four close friends and colleagues just within the past year. Taft envisions a future world where cancer never steals another year from anybody’s life, and he believes the work of the American Cancer Society will make that a reality.
“This year, nearly 1.5 million people will hear the words ‘You have cancer,’ and there's a good chance that some of them will be people we know and love,” he said. “I have chosen to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by supporting the American Cancer Society's work. It will be my 12th year doing this ride, and my seventh year leading Kick'n the Asphalt out of Cancer. I will be riding in memory of friends, colleagues, and those you have shared with me who lost their battle with this disease.”
In 2023, Kick’n the Asphalt Out of Cancer raised more than $175K to earn the Hero of Research Award. As recipients of the award, Kick’n the Asphalt Out of Cancer will name a research grant that will be used to further the mission of the American Cancer Society. The team has chosen to name that grant in memory of James D. Bond (Jim), Pan Ohio Rider 007, who passed away in December of 2023.
Bond’s incredible story of overcoming multiple myeloma was the motivation behind the genesis of the Pan Ohio Hope Ride. At the time of his diagnosis in 1992, treatments were extremely limited, and Bond hoped to live beyond five years. He enrolled in the first of many clinical trials, which required long stretches of travel and relocation.
Throughout his treatment, Bond and his wife Kathleen recognized the importance of the ACS’s Hope Lodge communities for cancer patients who need to receive treatment far from home. They were frustrated by the lack of awareness of the Hope Lodge program, so together they built on Kathleen’s dream and imagined a long-distance bike ride across the scenic college towns of Ohio. With the help of event co-chair Dennis Hoffer, ACS’s Pan Ohio Hope Ride was born.
Even though he wasn’t a cyclist and had never trained for an endurance event, Bond went all in, quickly purchasing a bicycle and training to support Kathleen’s project. Despite the physical challenges he faced as a result of his cancer treatments, Bond participated in every Pan Ohio from the inaugural event in 2007 through 2018. And in more recent years, when he was no longer riding, he still continued to fundraise relentlessly and maintained his place among our top fundraisers.
Bond personally raised over $500,000 individually and more than $750,000 with his team, the Bond EY Pathfinders. His tireless passion for the mission of the American Cancer Society extended far beyond Pan Ohio. Jim and Kathleen Bond have been American Cancer Society leaders and champions at the national, regional, and state level. Their work as a couple, partnering on dozens of ACS mission and development initiatives for more than 40 years, is truly legendary, and they have raised millions for the Hope Lodge, research programs, and many other initiatives.
Bond credited his more than 30 years of cancer survivorship to research progress made possible by the ACS. The healthy, active lifestyle that Bond modeled and promoted through endurance training was also a critical part of his recovery. His aspiration was to end cancer as we know it, for everyone, and he dedicated his life to sharing his story in the hopes that it would help others.
Pan Ohio Hope Ride is looking for volunteers: Whether supporters are willing to give four full days or just an hour or two in the evening, volunteers’ contribution of time and talent to supporting this epic fundraising event. A full list of volunteer opportunities can be found at: bit.ly/call4volunteers2024.
About the Cleveland Hope Lodge: The Hope Lodge® community, composed for 31 facilities nationwide, provides free, temporary lodging for people facing cancer and their caregivers when treatment is far from home. Hope Lodge guests don't just find a place to stay - they find a community of support and an emotional connection with others facing the same journey. The Cleveland Hope Lodge, which opened in 1995, offers 31 guest rooms located near treatment centers in the area. The Hope Lodge community in Cleveland reduces financial strain, makes treatment more accessible, and improves the quality of life for thousands of people facing cancer each year. The Cleveland Hope Lodge is consistently full and often has a waiting list. Construction of a new 10,000 sq. ft. wing with 12 guest suites is underway to expand to 43 guest rooms, which adds 4,000 more free night stays. Most guests who stay at Hope Lodge receive their treatment at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. The UH Seidman Cancer Center has one of the top Pan Ohio Hope Ride cycling teams.
About the American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.